He was born in Lahore's old 'walled city'. Shuja wrote about the history and ethos of its Bhaati Gate and Bazaar i Hakiman areas in his memoirsLahore ka Chelsea(circa 1960s). He is accounted to be one of the old city's notable Lahoris.

He is best known today for writing the screenplays for many early Indian and Pakistani movies and for composing romantic lyrics and songs for some of them. His son, Anwar Kamal Pasha, later became a major Pakistani film director and producer.[2]